Aspirating device



Nov. 11, 1958 J- A. NEIGEL ASPIRATING DEVICE Filed May 10, 1955 VIII'IIIIII? INVENTOR I WQ 72 6/ BY ORNEY ASPIRATING DEVICE Application May 10, 1955, Serial No. 507,240

9 Claims. (Cl. 230-95) The present invention relates to aspirating apparatus, and, more particularly, to an aspirating device which is primarily adapted for introducing gaseous media at a relatively high pressure into inflatable structures designed to do work, such as pneumatic jacks presently utilized for righting aircraft which has crashedon the flight deck of an aircraft carrier.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide such a device which is simple, practical and economical in construction, is light in weight and compact in arrangement, and is reliable, rapid and eflicient in operation.

Another object is to provide such a device wherein provision is made for maintaining the structure inflated and for facilitating rapid deflation thereof when it has accomplished its purpose.

A further object is to provide such a device wherein the foregoing means are constructed and arranged so as not to materially impair the efliciency of the device.

Other and further objects of the invention will be obvious upon an understanding of the illustrative embodiment about to be described, or will be indicated in the appended claims, and various advantages not referred to herein will occur to one skilled in the art upon employment of the invention in practice.

In accordance with the present invention, the foregoing objects are accomplished by providing an aspirating device which comprises a Venturi tube having a converging inlet section and a diverging outlet section providing a passageway, and having a throat formed with a seat surrounding the same and facing the outlet section; a closure for the seat; means for pivotally mounting the closure adjacent the seat; means supported by the tube for moving the closure to close and unclose the throat; and nozzle means in the inlet section having an orifice facing the throat for directing gaseous medium under pressure through the tube.

A recess is provided for reception of the closure adjacent the throat when in its throat closing position, and a pocket is provided in the outlet section adjacent the inlet section laterally disposed of and facing the passageway for reception of the closure when in its throat unclosing position, whereby the closure is out of the passageway and does not interfere with the aspirated stream.

A preferred embodiment of the invention has been chosen for purposes of illustration and description, and is shown in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of the specification, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view of an aspirating device in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a stepped sectional view taken along the broken line on Fig. 1, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows 2--2. I

Fig. 3 is a similar view but looking in indicated by the arrows 3.3.

the direction 2,859,908 Patented Nov. 11, 1958 Referring to the drawing in detail, there is shown a Venturi tube 10 comprising a converging inlet section 11 and a diverging outlet section 12, which sections may constitute separate members constructed and secured in the manner described hereinafter to provide a unitary aspirating device.

As shown herein, the inlet section is provided with a circular throat 14 adjacent the downstream end thereof which is formed with an annular seat 15 which surrounds the throat and faces in the downstream direction with a generally annular recess 16 surrounding the seat.

The downstream end of the inlet section and the upstream end of the outlet section are generally oval in peripheral contour (Figs. 2 and 3), and are each provided with a flange 17 adapted to be secured together by bolts 18 or the like.

The upper portion of the inlet section at the aforementioned end is formed with a pocket 19, facing downstream, and with a pair of spaced transversely apertured lugs 20 (Fig. 2) intermediate the recess 16 and the pocket 19. The upper portion of the outlet section is formed with a block 21 provided with an axial bore 22 serving as a piston chamber and having an inlet 24 at the closed end thereof, and with a pocket 25 below the block 21 which is open at its upstream end and is disposed laterally of and faces the passageway of the outlet section. The purpose of these formations will be more clearly understood from the ensuing description.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a door or closure 26 is provided for closing and unclosing the throat which includes a disc 27 and a gasket 28 for abutting the seat 15 to seal the throat. The closure is pivotally mounted by means of a bracket 29 which comprises a lower leg 30 having the disc 27 secured thereto, an offset intermediate central leg or hinge 31 formed with a bore, and upper side legs 32 each formed with a hole. A hinge rod 34 is rotatably supported at each end by bearings 35 and 36 a formed in the inlet section member, and extends through the lugs 20 and the hinge 31 and is secured to the latter for rotation therewith.

Manual rotation of the rod, to move the closure into throat unclosing position, is accomplished by a handle 37 secured to an end of the rod which extends outwardly of the tube member 11 (Fig. 2).

A spring 38 serves to normally maintain the closure in its throat closing position, as shown in full lines in Fig. 1. This spring comprises spaced coils 39 encircling the hinge rod (Figs. 1 and 2) and having their free ends engaging the inner wall of the tube member 11 adjacent the lugs 20, and an intermediate connecting section 40 engaging the leg 30 at the downstream side thereof.

Automatic movement of the closure into throat unclosing position is accomplished by a piston or plunger 41 retained in the chamber 22 by a sleeve 42 and linked to the closure bracket to effect pivotal movement thereof. A suitable arrangement for so linking these elements comprises a nut element 44 threadedly or otherwise secured to the end of the piston projecting outwardly of the piston chamber and having a vertical slot 45 therein (Fig. l), and a pin 46 extending into the holes of the legs 32 and slidably positionedin the slot 45 for up and down movement therein.

Nozzle means are provided on the open end of the inlet section 11 for directing gaseous medium under pressure into the throat whereby ambient air is sucked into the tube inlet. Such means comprises a central nozzle head 47 positionedwithin the inlet section having an orifice 49 facing the throat, a fitting 5t) mounted on the exterior of the inlet section having an inlet 51 adapted 3 conduit :54 connecting the nozzle head 47 and the outlet 52 and providing in part a support for the head.

A flexible hose 55' or the like connected to the fitting outlet 53 and the chamber inlet 24, whereby a portion of the medium is utilized to operate the pisto'n'41l.

The outlet end of thetub'e It is adapted for connection to the inlet of an inflatable structure (not shown) which normally is closed by the closure 26 to prevent foreign matter from entering the same.

In operation, the closure 26 is normally held on its seat 15 and within the recess 16 by the spring 38 which acts on the closure bracket to position the piston 41 in the chamber 22 with inner end near the inlet 24 thereof, as shown in Fig. l in full line and in Fig. 2. When pressure medium is admitted to the fitting 50, a portion thereof is effective to move the piston outwardly of its chamber, whereby the nut 44 tilts the closure bracket counterclockwise by its engagement with the bracket pin 45 to position the closure and the associated elements as shown in broken lines in Fig. 1. Pressure medium entering the head 47 is then directed into the throat by the orifice 49 causing ambient air to be sucked into the tube inlet and admixed with the medium. This mixture is introduced into the inflatable structure (notshown) under a sufficiently high pressure to enable the inflatable structure to exert a force useful for accomplishing work.

When the closure 26 is in its throat unclosing position, the closure and its bracket are disposed in the pocket 25 to the side of the normal passageway through the tube, and the nut 44 and the free end of the piston 41 are disposed in the pocket 19, whereby these elements do not materially eflect the efliciency of the aspirating effect of the Venturi-tube arrangement. When in this position, the downstream end rests against the lower surface of the block 21 which acts as a stop. Also, by reason of the connection between the bracket hinge 31 and the rod 34, the handle is tilted about ninety degrees to indicate that the closure has been properly moved otf its seat. a

After the inflatable structure is fully inflated, the supply of pressure medium to the fitting inlet 51 is discontinued, whereby the medium in the piston chamber escapes to the atmosphereby way of the hose 55, the conduit and the orifice 49. The spring 38 now is effective to return the closure to reclose the throat and confine the pressure medium in the inflatable structure and the portion of the tube at the downstream side of the closure. Also, the handle is returned to its initial position to indicate that the closure is on its seat.

When the inflatable structure has served its purpose and it is desired to deflate the same, partially or fully depending on the desired rate of deflation, the closure is unseated by manual operation of the handle 37.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that the present invention provides a novel and useful aspirating device primarily adapted for use in connection with the inflation of work producing inflatable structures and other purposes requiring pressure medium at relatively higher pressures than normally employed for inflating life rafts or the like where a large volume of medium at a few pounds pressure is required. The device is rugged in construction and can withstand such rough usage to which it normally may be subjected.

As various changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of the parts herein, without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and without sacrificing any of its advantages, it is to be under stood that all matter herein is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in any limiting sense.

I claim:

1. An aspirating device comprising a Venturi tube having a converging inlet section and a diverging outlet section providing a passageway, and having a throat formed with a seat surrounding the same and facing said outlet section; a substantially impervious closure adapted to abut said seat to seal said inlet section from said outlet section; means for pivotally mounting said closure adjacent said seat; means supported by said tube for moving said closure to close and unclose said throat; and nozzle means in said inlet section having an orifice facing said throat for directing gaseous medium under pressure through said tube.

2. A device according to claim 1, wherein said inlet section is formed with a generally annular recess downstream of said seat for receiving said closure when in a throat closing position.

3. A device according to claim 1, wherein said outlet section is formed with a pocket adjacent said inlet section disposed laterally of and facing said passageway for receiving said closure when in a throat unclosing position, whereby said closure is out of said passageway.

4. A device according to claim '1, wherein said closure moving means include a piston chamber in said outlet section formed with a pressure medium inlet, a piston in said chamber arranged for movement in an upstream direction and linkage connecting said piston to said closure, and wherein said inlet section has a pocket facing said piston chamberfor receiving said piston and said linkage.

5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said closure mounting means include a rod rotatably supported by said tube and having said closure connected thereto for movement therewith, and wherein said closure movingmeans include means for rotating said rod having a handle connected thereto at the exterior of said tube.

6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said closure moving rneansinclude a spring for normally urging said closure into throat closing position.

7. An aspirator device comprising a Venturi tube having a converging inlet section and a diverging outlet section providing a passageway and having a throat formed with a seat surrounding the same and facing said outlet section; a closure for said seat; means supported by said tube for pivotally mounting said closure adjacent said seat; a spring in engagement with said closure for normally urging said closure on its seat to close said throat; pressure operated piston means linked to said closure for moving the same to unclose said throat; manually operable means including a handle at the exterior of said tube for moving said closure to unclose said throat; and nozzle means in said inlet section having an orifice facing said throat for directing gaseous medium under pressure through said tube.

8. An aspirat-or device comprising a Venturi tube having a converging inlet section and a diverging outlet section providing a passageway and having a throat formed with. a seat surrounding the same and facing said outlet section, said inlet section being formed with an annular recess downstream of said throat and said outlet section being formed with a pocket adjacent said inlet section disposed laterally of and facing said passageway; a closure for said seat; means supported by said tube for pivotally mounting said closure adjacent said seat and moving said closure to close and unclose said throat constructed and arranged to position said closure within said'recess when in throat closing position and within said pocket when in throat unclosing position; and nozzle means in said inlet section having an orifice facing said throat for directing' gaseous medium under pressure through said tube.

9. An aspirator device comprising a Venturi tube having an inlet, a converging inlet section, a diverging outlet section, and an outlet providing a passageway; a seat between said inlet and said outlet surroundingsaid passageway and facing said outlet; a closure adapted to abut said seat to seal said inlet from said outlet; means supported by said tube formovably mounting said closure adjacent said seat; resilient ineans in' engagement with said closure for normally urging said closure on its seat 5 to close said passageway; pressure operated means in engagement with said closure for moving the same to unclose said passageway; and nozzle means adjacent said inlet having an orifice facing said outlet for directing gaseous medium under pressure through said tube.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 794,881 Pagenhart July 18, 1905 6 Booth Nov. 3, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Nov. 12, 1931 

